Game device



Feb. 23, 1937. J. F. WELLEKENS GAME DEVICE 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug.

INVENTOR. Jay/v fT/VfLLA'A [A J.

% ATTORNEYS gill Feb. 23, 1937. J. F. WELLEKEIQVS- GAME DEVICE FiledAug. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937.

' J. F. WELLEKENS GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tlllllalllll I.l||

El h I W INVENTOR. f. fizzz/rf/va wit/og/A/ 5 6- ATTORNEYS Feb. 23,1937.

J. F. WELLEKENS 2,071,600

GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 dill 1111111 011 )mroeINVENTOR. Jo/m /-T WELLE/n'A/a 1w TNESS ATTORNEYS Patented eb. 23, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in gamedevices and more particularly it pertains to such devices as arecommonly known as of the bagatelle type.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedgame apparatus which combines the element of chance with the element ofskill of the players.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improvedmechanism whereby the total .score of an individual player is at alltimes visible to the players.

In connection with the present device, it is intended that the score becomputed by addition and subtraction of predetermined or arbitraryamounts or values depending upon the play of an individual and it is afurther object of the invention to provide a novel mechanism whereby theaddition and subtraction as the several plays determine, will beautomatically computed.

Other objects of the invention reside in a new and novel combination andarrangement of parts and will become apparent as the nature of theinvention is better understood.

For a further understanding of the invention reference will be had tothe following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional View taken substantiallyon the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially onthe line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal'sectional view takensubstantially on the line 66 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line '|-1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 88 of Figure 6.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views showing the manner in whichthe several circuits are completed by one of the lements of the game,and;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view illustratingthe various circuitsemployed in the apparatus.

Referring particularly to Figure 1- of the drawings, the game apparatuscomprises a housing or casing I2 which has a horizontal partition l3arranged near its upper end. The partition is cut away to form a playingfield and this playing fleld is divided into two sections l4 and Hi. Thesection I4 is movable and preferably consists of a rotating t/able l6having a circularly arranged series of openings I! which form traps fora ball or balls rolled over the playing field. The stationary portion l5of the playing field is provided with a plurality of pins or other suitable baffles for directing the movement of a ball over the playingfield; There are a plurality of these pins |8 in the upper portion ofthe playing field, it being understood that the playing field isinclined, and extending from the zone in which these several pins I8 arepositioned there is a plurality of grooves or channels 9 which receivethe balls from the upper portion of the playing field and convey them tothe movable portion l4 of the playing field and the traps l1 thereof.

As heretofore stated, the portion M of the playing field is movable andby reference to Figure '7 it will be apparent that this portion I4comprises a dome-like member 20 in which the openings or traps I! areformed. This dome-like member 2|) is carried by a table 2| which has abearing 22 for supporting the rotating table upon the upper end of ashaft 23 mounted on the bottom wall 24 of the housing l2. This shaft 23carries a sleeve 25 rigidly connected thereto, and rigidly connected tothe sleeve-there is a pulley 26 around which passes a driving element2'! herein illustrated as a coil spring. This driving element 21 passesaround a pulley 28 carried by a shaft 29, which latter is ,mounted in abracket 30 at one end and in a bearing 3| in the front wall 32 of thehousing at the other end. Externally of the housing this shaft isprovided with a crank 33- by which it maybe rotated and it will beobvious that upon operation of the crank 33, through the medium of themechanism just described the table 2| will be rotated. By thisconstruction and arrangement of parts, one of the traps I! may bepositioned in line with any one of the channels or grooves l9 to receivea ball therefrom. The tracks I! being of different values, and beingmovable with respect to the of concentric channels 88. Passages 88 leadthrough the rotating table 2| and by reference to Figurel'l it will benoted that the anglesoi these passages 88 vary with relation to eachother in order that their lower or discharge end will occupy positionsin registration with the various concentric channels 88 oi the member84. For example, in Figure 7, the left hand passa e 88 registers withthe channel 38 which is the third innermost channel, while the passage88 at the right hand end of said figure registers with the outermostchannel 88.

Mounted beneath the table 84 there is a distributing device 81 and thisdistributing device is formed with a plurality of channels 88 which, asbest illustrated in Figure 4, lead to a bail receiving compartment orreceptacle 48 which is divided by partitions 4| into compartments 42which register with the channels 88, heretofore mentioned.

From the foregoing it will be apparent then, that as a. ball is receivedin a trap II it passes through the trap into the corresponding passage88 and is delivered to the corresponding channel 88 from which it isdelivered to the corresponding channel 88 which conveys it to the propercompartment 42 01' the ball receiving compartment or receptacle 48. Theseveral compartments 42 are given values which correspond with thevalues of the traps so that by merely glancing at the compartment orreceptacle 40, the score of any number of balls played may be determinedby a simple process of addition and subtraction.

In the present embodiment of the game it is contemplated that certain ofthe traps will have a plus value and other traps will have a minus valueso that, for instance, if the first ball played were received'in a traphaving a plus 10 value, the scoring being done in units oi 10, and thesecond ball played were received in a trap of minus 10 value, simply byglancing into the ball receiving receptacle or compartment 40, it couldbe ascertained that the score would be zero.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the values or the several compartmentsmay be designated along the upper or inner edge of the ball receivingcompartment or receptacle 40, as indicated at 48 in said Figure 1.

Means is employed to provide a' visual indication of the total score atany time during the play. By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted thatthis means includes a series of calibrations of plus value designated45, and a series of calibrations of minus value designated 48, and thatthese calibrations extend in opposite directions from a zero pointdesignated 44.

Movable over these calibrations there is a pointer or indicator 41 whichis mounted upon a shaft 48 carried by a partition 48' which extendstransversely of the housing I2. The lower end of this pointer 41 isprovided with a counter weight 48 which tends normally to hold thepointer '41,; in registration with the zero position and which serves toreturn the pointer to this position when it is not otherwise held.Mounted on the shaft 48 in such a manner as to drive the pointer 41there is a gear 80. This gear 88 meshes with a small gear 81 mountedupon a shaft 52, upon which a large gear 83 is also mounted in such aSCOI'B.

pins 84 carried by a rotating member 88, which in turn is driven by ashaft 88 which in turn is operated by a gear 81 meshing with a gear 88,the gear 88 being driven by a suitable spring motor 88. The gear 88 isdriven in a counter-, clockwise direction by engagement of pins 80, thepins 88 being carried by a rotating member 8| driven by a shaft 82through the medium of a gear 88 which meshes with a gear 84 driven by aspring motor 88.

A holding pawl 66 is mounted in yielding engagement with the teeth ofthe gear 83by means of a spring 81. This pawl, however, will not lockthe gear 83 against rotation by either of the spring motors 88 or 65but, will hold the same against accidental movement.

The members 88 and SI are of similar construction except that theyoperate in opposite directions and each is controlled by an escapementmechanism which will now be described. The member 88 has a plurality ofequi-distantly spaced peripheral projections 68 which are adapted to beengaged by the hooked ends 88 and 18 or. a bell crank lever Ii whichis,mounted in one position by means of a spring I2. Extending from theshaft 18 upon which the bell crank II is mounted there is an arm I4which carries an armature I8 adapted to be attracted by an electromagnetI8.

The member 8i has a plurality of equi-distantly spaced peripheralprojections II adapted to be engaged bythe hooked ends I8 and I8 of abell crank lever 80 which is operated in one direction by means of acoil spring 82. Mounted upon the shaft 88 upon which the bell cranklever 80 is mounted, there is an arm 84 which carries an armature 88adapted to be attracted by an electromagnet 88. In the normal positionof the parts the pointer 41 will occupy the position as shown in Figure3. It now, the escapement oi the member 88 be released, the pointer willbe driven to the left in Figure 3 and indicate a minus If, on the otherhand, the escapement of the member 8| be released the pointer will bedriven to the right in Figure 3 and indicate a plus score.

The member 88 is released by energization of the electromagnet I6 whichdraws the armature I8 to the left in Figure 3, disengaging the hook IDwith the projection 68, thus permitting the member 88 to rotate to thedirection of the arrow under the influence of its spring. It is allowedto rotate, however, but one step since disengagement of the hooked end10 with a pro- Jection will move the hooked end 88 in the path oranother projection which, as long as the magnet I8 is energized, willprevent further rotation of the member 85.

Rotation of the member 8| under the influence of its spring is obtainedby energization of the magnet 88 and attraction of the armature to theright in Figure 3 to disengage the hook I8 with a projection 11, andmoving the hook I8 into the path of the succeeding projections 11.

Immediately either of the energized electromagnets I6 or 88 isde-energized, the spring I2 or the spring 8i, as the case may be, willengage a projection of its respective member 88 or 8i, to hold thesemembers 58 or 8i against further rotation under the influence of theirdriving spring.

The magnets I8 and 86 are in electric circuits which are designateddiagrammatically in Figure II. In said Figure 11, the source of power isdesignated 81 and 88. The conductor 81 is connected as at 89 to aconductor 98 which has contacts 9i, 92. 93. 94, 95, and 96. Theconductor 88 leads through the electromagnets 86 and by means of aconductor 91 is connected to one terminal of a switch 98. Leading fromthe other terminal of the switch 98 there is a conductor 99 which has aplurality of contacts I88, IN, and- I82. Leading from the conductor 98as at I83 there is a conductor I84 which leads through the electromagnet 16, and extending from the elec-- tromagnet 16 there is aconductor I85 which is connected to one terminal I86 of an electricswitch, Leading from the other terminal of the electric switch I 86there is a conductor I81 which has a plurality of contacts I88, I89, andH8. Connected to the conductor 81 as at III there is a conductor II2which has two contacts H3 and H4. Connected to the conductor I81 as atII5 there is a conductor II6 having a contact II1 closely adjacent thecontact H3. and connected to the conductor 99 as at II 8 there is aconductor II9 having a contact I28 closely adjacent the contact 4.

Connected to the conductor 81 as at I2I there is a conductor I22 andthis conductor I22 has two contacts I23 and I24. Connected as at I25 tothe conductor I81 there is a conductor I26 which has a contact I21closely adjacent the contact I23. Connected to the conductor 99 as atI28 there is a conductor I29 which has a contact I38 closely adjacentthe contact I24. Connected to the conductor 81 as at I3I there is aconductor I32, and this conductor I32 has four contacts I33, I34, I35,and I36. Connected to the conductor I81 as at I31 there is a conductorI38. This conductor I38 has a contact I39 closely adjacent the contactI33 and a contact I48 closely adjacent the contact I34. Connected to theconductor 99 as at MI is a conductor I42 which has a contact I43 closelyadjacent the contact I36 and contact I44 closely adjacent the contactI35.

These several contacts are arranged in the channels 39 heretoforementioned and are adapted to be bridged to complete the circuit in theconductors of which they are a part by the balls as they pass throughsaid channels.

It will be remembered that the channels 39 have difierent values andtherefore, the circuits will be so arranged in the channels that thechannels of higher values will carry the greater number of contacts, forinstance, the contacts H4 and I28; I24 and I38; I36 and I43; and 9| andI88 would all be in one channel so that a ball rolled through saidchannel would complete first, the circuit of conductors I I2 and I I9,second of conductors I22 and I29, third of conductors I32 and I42, andfourth of conductors 99 and 98. By reference to Figure 11 it will benoted that the circuits are in duplicate. One of these duplicatecircuits will operate the electromagnet which will release the mechanismto drive the pointer 41 in the plus direction and the other circuit will0 be operated to operate the electro magnet to release the operatingmechanism to drive the pointer 41 in the minus direction. Thus, if aball were received in the channel carrying the four sets of contactsabove described, there would be a four step operation of the pointer ineither the plus or minus direction depending upon the track in which theball is trapped and the channel to which it is delivered. Assuming thatthe ball is trapped and delivered to the channel carrying the four setsof contacts and the operating mechanism is released to move the pointer41 in the plus direction. There would, under these circumstances, be amovement of the pointer 41 to the right in Figure 3 to the calibration48.-

If now, the next ball played were to be delivered to the channelcarrying two sets of contacts on the minus side, the operating mechanismwhich drives the pointer 41 in the minus direction will be operated todrive the pointer in a counterclock direction or to the left in Figure 3two steps showing a total score of 40 less 20, or 20. However, byglancing at the ball receiving compartment or receptacle 48 it will beapparent that one ball played gave a score of plus 48 and that the otherball played gave a score of minus 28, and that the total score is,therefore; plus 28.

Thus it will be apparent that means is provided not only to give thetotal score of plays but also means is providedwhereby the manner-inwhich the total score was reached may be ascertained. It will be notedthat the circuits of the electromagnets 16 and 86 are so arranged thatwhen the circuit to one of said electromagnets is energized, the circuitto the other one will be automatically opened so that the two magnetscannot be simultaneously energized. For example, if a ball completes acircuit at the contactsv H4 and I28, the magnet 86 will be energizedthrough the conductor 99, switch 98, conductor 91 and conductor 88.Energization of the magnet 86 attracts the switch armature 85 and opensthe circuit of the electromagnet 16 by an opening of the circuit throughthe conductors I81, I85, I84 and 88. If, however, a circuit be completedby engagement of a ball with the contacts H3 and H1, the electromagnet16 will be energized through the conductor I81, switch I 86, conductorI85, conductor I84, conductor 88. Energization of the electromagnet 16will attract the armature 15, open the switch 18 and open the circuitheretofore described as the circuit of the electromagnet 86.

The machine herein illustrated is of the coin controlled type. Machinesof this type are cleared each time they are played by the insertion of acoin in a suitable coin mechanism, which upon operation, releases all ofthe parts and permits them to return to normal position.

In the present embodiment of the invention, this coin controlledmechanism is conventionally illustrated at I52 and includes areciprocating member I53 having the ordinary coin receptacle I54. As themember I53 is moved inwardly, it engages a lever I55 which is pivotallymounted as at I56 in a suitable bracket I51. Extending from this leverthere is an operating rod I 58 which is connected as at I59 to a crankarm I68 carried by a transversely extending shaft I6I. Through themedium of a crank arm I69 which is carried by the shaft I6I, see Figure2, a reciprocating member I18 mounted in brackets Ill is moveddownwardly against the action of a spring I12. This member I18 has aright angular upper end I13 which engages the end I14 of the holdingpawl 66 to disengage it from the tion where they may be elevated toprojecting position by a conventional elevating mechanism designatedIll. The reference numeral ill' designates a conventional projectingdevice by means of which the balls are projected from startinl positionto the playing field.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a new and improved scoring, computing and totalizing mechanismfor games 01 the character set forth, and while the invention has'beenherein described in itspreierred form it is to be understood that it isnot to be limited to the construction herein shown and that it may bepracticed in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field definedby a ball runway, a plurality of baflie elements, means for projectingthe ball from the ball runway into engagement with said baii'ieelements, a plurality oi! parallel channels adapted to singly receivethe ball from the baiile elements, rotatable means mounted in theplaying field, said rotatable means having a plurality of ball receivingtraps, and means for rotating said rotatable member, selectively toposition any one of the ball receiving traps of the rotatable memher inposition to receive a ball from any one oi said store-mentioned channelsin which a bail might be present.

'2. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field definedby a ball runway, a plurality of baiile elements, means for projectingthe ball from the ball runway into engagement with said baii'ieelements, a plurality of parallel channels adapted to singly receive theball from the baiiie elements, rotatable means mounted in the playingfield, said rotatable means having a plurality of ball receiving traps,and manually operated means for rotating said rotatable member,selectively to position any one of the ball receiving traps of therotatable member in position to receive a ball from any one 01' saidaiore-mentioned channels in which a ball might be present.

3. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field definedby a ball runway, a plurality oi. baiiie elements, means for projectingthe ball from the bail runway into engagement with said baifie elements,a plurality of parallel channels adapted to singly receive the ball fromthe bame,

